View full sizeDouglas Spossey said his friend Lawrence Gabriel helped save lives when he wrestled a shooter out of a Tipperary Hill bar early Sunday morning. Screen grab

Holmes said she was not surprised that Gabriel risked his life for others. The father of two young boys did a tour of duty in Iraq and is still in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Gabriel is still in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Upstate University Hospital, she said.

"It's not even a day-by-day thing right now. It's hour-by-hour," she said.

The funds earned will go toward any hospital bills not covered by their insurance, and toward living expenses for their family while Gabriel recovers, she said.

Officials said Morris took his 29-year-old ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Spossey, hostage at gunpoint around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. They drove around the city with his new girlfriend before going to McAvan's Pub where he knew the woman's family members were celebrating a birthday.

When they entered the bar, Douglas Spossey noticed his sister's discomfort and tried to separate the two, officials said. That's when Morris opened fire, police said.

A family member confirmed that two of the other shooting victims were Rich Lighton and Jake Palmer. Those two and Gabriel remain in the hospital.

Police said the sixth shooting victim is 35-year-old Cristina Voultsios.